CINCINNATI—More than 6 million people in the United States have a deadly disease and they don’t even know it.

The disease is diabetes, and altogether an estimated 20 million Americans suffer from it. Some of those who are unaware they have diabetes can be screened for it at a health fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 26, in the atrium of the downtown Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

“Diabetes may occur at any point during a person’s life,” says Matt Brown, a member of the UC chapter of the Academy of Student Pharmacists, which is hosting the event to mark American Pharmacists Month.

“Being aware that you have the disease allows you educate yourself and take necessary steps to manage your blood glucose levels,” says Brown, a doctoral candidate (PharmD) at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Pharmacy.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 7 percent of the population has diabetes, a disease in which the body doesn’t produce or properly use insulin. UC’s Diabetes Center estimates that there are 10,000 people with type 1 diabetes and 150,000 with type 2 diabetes in the Greater Cincinnati area alone.

In addition to blood glucose screenings, the health fair will offer blood pressure checks, screening for heartburn and flu vaccination.

Informational handouts will be available on immunizations, lifestyle changes that optimize cardiovascular health and the new HPV vaccine (cervical cancer vaccine). There will also be a display of health-related books available at the library, and licensed pharmacists will be on hand to answer questions about safe and effective use of medications.

UC College of Pharmacy, one of the oldest pharmacy colleges in the United States, offers both professional practice (PharmD) and graduate (MS and PhD) degrees. Supported by an active research faculty, the college provides students with an opportunity to develop their individual skills.

Graduates of the college have a 100 percent placement rate prior to graduation and are highly sought after by professional and pharmaceutical employers. The most recent class of PharmD graduates achieved a 100 percent passing grade on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX).